DT 29802 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29802 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29802 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club

Hosted by Tilsit

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Greetings from Warrington! Thanks to Gazza for stepping in at short notice last week. It’s quite hectic at work at the moment with people starting to enjoy their freedom again and getting out and about. I’m on the late shift today starting at noon, so getting ready for that.

Back to the puzzle, which was a fair old challenge today from our lovely lady setter, sans doute. It was probably straying into Tuesday Toughie territory as I thought it quite a challenge, although it could just be me feeling more than a bit drained at the moment. Sometimes you can pick up a Saturday puzzle and write the answers in as you read the clues, but not today! And no less enjoyable. This was my cup of tea (if I drank the stuff!) so thanks to Chalicea for the challenge.

As usual, we’d like to hear your thoughts and I am sure we will have a visit from the lovely lady herself later.

Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.

A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.  Thank you to our setter for an enjoyable solve this morning!

Some hints follow:

Across

4a Most heated feeling of dread about boundless grief (8)
A word (derived from German, IIRC) for a feeling of dread goes around the word GRIEF, minus the first and last letters (boundless).

9a Engineers likely to be trustworthy (8)
The standard abbreviation when you see the word ‘engineers’ in a puzzle, plus something meaning likely or legally responsible.

10a Pleased with oil I cooked up for plants (8)
Something meaning pleased, plus an anagram of OIL I (cooked up).

12a Doubtfully ate up mostly foul stew (3-2-3)
An anagram (doubtfully) ATE UP and most of the word FOUL gives a winter warming stew with a French name.

13a Auditor finally hears half of text on board ship (8)
The last letter (finally) of HEARS and 50% of the word TEXT go inside the name a (cruise) ship.

21a Picture of old cold farm worker returning (6)
A type of artwork can be found by taking the abbreviations or old and cold and adding the name of a farmworker from the Middle Ages

24a Disease in fruit recurring we hear (4-4)
A homophone of the same word for a type of fruit twice gives the name of a disease.

26a Move fast! Don’t do this with something unpleasant! (4,2,2)
Two definitions, with the second one cryptic.

Down

1d Swell dance circle working (7)
The name for an (organised) dance, plus the letter that represents a circle and a word that indicates something is working.

2d Reportedly prohibited joker having as topic fashionable movement (9)
A homophone for a word meaning prohibited, plus one meaning a joker or wit, and add something that means having as a topic or subject.

4d Farmer, a good country-dweller, welcomes international school (15)
A, plus the abbreviation for good and a word for a country-dweller (think of the adjective meaning ‘of the country’ and add -ist. Inside this goes the abbreviation for international and a word meaning a (religious) school. Phew!

6d Country’s supporter half-heartedly supporting computer technology (5)
Underneath the abbreviation for computer equipment or tech goes a four letter word meaning supporter that has letters two and three the same, but loses one, so is ‘half-hearted’.

14d Inquiring into pound invested in public showing by clique (9)
Inside a word for a public show (think Montreal in 1967) goes the abbreviation for pound. Add something meaning a clique.

15d Novice with inclination for dialect of German (8)
A word for a novice, sometimes spelt with an ‘I’ but here with an alternative second letter. Add to this a word meaning inclination.

18d King, troublesome fellow, acquired knowledge (7)
Famous Shakespearean king, plus a slang word for a tearaway.

22d Work hastily and superficially read page (5)
If you speed read, you are doing this, usually. Add to this the abbreviation for page.

So, has your mind been given a good bending, or was it plain sailing, let us know. And if you are going to carp, try and be constructive.

Remember as usual, to play nicely and avoid being put on the naughty step. I’ll see you next Saturday

The Crossword Club is now open.

Our music to finish today is our music on hold at work (skip the clapping for the first minute!)

Could new readers please read the Welcome post and the FAQ before posting comments or asking questions about the site.

As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES in your comment. If in doubt, leave it out!

Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.

If you don’t understand, or don’t wish to comply with, the conventions for commenting on weekend prize puzzles then save yourself (and me) a lot of trouble and don’t leave a comment.  BD


We are being spoiled! Two Quickie Puns today, top and bottom rows!

Top Row: hill+areas=hilarious

Bottom Row: reign+deer=reindeer


66 comments on “DT 29802 (Hints)

  1. Actually finished before noon on a Saturday….a first for me.
    I am grateful for my time in France for 12a. My favourites were 2d and 14d.
    15d and 21a were the last in. I kept trying to include an ‘l’ in 15d.

  2. Very enjoyable SPP, with some clever and amusing clues. Highlights for me were 12 & 16a; 2, 14, &.15d. Thanks to Tilsit and Chalicea, if it is she. ** / ****

    Big A.L. Divisional baseball game last night with my Boston Red Sox pouring it on against the Tampa Bay Rays, 14-6. Series is now tied, with one win each. Go, Sox!

  3. Hmm, I don’t seem to be having a very good week this week, I didn’t find a lot of fun in today’s offering and if it is by the Floughie Lady that is unusual – 2.5*/2*.

    No standout favourite, but I liked 19a and 26a.

    Thanks to Chalicea(?) and Tilsit.

  4. 3*/3.5*. An enjoyable mixture of easy and difficult clues with a bit of everything in between.

    4d (my favourite) took quite a bit of working out, and I knew neither the Scottish troublesome fellow in 18d nor the drinking bout in 20d, but both were confirmed in the BRB.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Tilsit.

    1. I didn’t know the Scottish troublemaker, I thought Australian, but just looked it up and I think you’re right – as usual!

      1. A few years ago a Scottish friend visited Swaziland (as it then was) and was surprised to encounter branches of [3-letter-troublemaker]bank — not a name which would get used for a financial institution in Scotland!

        1. There is a delicious New Zealand wine which goes by the same name as the Scottish troublemaker….much to my amusement ….

  5. A light and entertaining puzzle with some fun clues (1*/4*). I liked 12a, 1td and 2d, the latter being COTD. Thank you to Tilsit for the hints and to the compiler (Chalicea?).

  6. Flew through this and enjoyed doing so – though I didn’t know 12a and formed a guess with an abundance of checking letters.

    We are heading out for an autumnal walk in a ‘well-being garden’ shortly, so I expect to return full of bonhomie and cheer.

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Spell Songs – The Lost Words

    Thanks to the setter (Chalicea, if it is indeed she) and Tilsit, of course.

  7. I’m struggling with today’s offering. If it is Chalicea, I am surprised because I usually get on well with her puzzles. I haven’t thrown in the towel yet but after a very brief look at the hints I may well do. Not, of course, that there is anything wrong with the hints.

    Many thanks to Chalicea(?) and to Tilsit.

  8. As soon as I remembered the ‘troublesome fellow’ in 18d, I knew who’d set this one. The NW and SE corners of the crossword turned this into more of a Toughie (although still medium back-pager) than many of Chalicea’s Tuesday offerings

    Thanks to her and Tilsit

  9. Just a slight pause to find the required ‘dread’ for 4a, otherwise a jolly Saturday romp.
    No particular favourite but a few smiles along the way.

    Thanks to our setter and to Tilsit for the hints and music.

  10. A very enjoyable puzzle. A bit of a loose definition in 20d but a good mix of clues. **/**** Favourite 2d. Thanks to all.

    1. 20d my last in & did not find the BRB helpful! Still not sure if I have the correct vowel for second letter?

  11. Like RD I thought this had a number of toughish clues sprinkled in with some pretty straightforward ones. Overall probably about right for an SPP. Finished in mid ** time with *** fun factor.
    16a brought a smile when the penny dropped & gets my COTD.
    Thanks to setter and Tilsit for the hints.

  12. Cheerfully sailed through the finale of a super week clearing the North first. Crafty language mix-up in 15d. Drinking bout for 20d is somewhat indirect. No outstanding clue but several goodies. Thanks Chalicea and Tilsit including for another of your delightful musical interludes.

  13. I certainly found this a tad harder than most Saturdays, and I was surprised that the consensus seems to be backing Chalicea, who can normally be relied upon to produce a reasonably straightforward and fairly clued puzzle. There were half a dozen in this that had me scratching my head for the solution. All done though, but maybe a little down on the usual enjoyment factor. That said, with the bar normally set so high in that regard it is probably a little churlish to moan. 4d was undoubtedly my favourite clue.

    My thanks to Chalicea, if it is indeed she, and to Tilsit.

  14. Unlike our reviewer, I’m afraid this wasn’t my cup of tea (and I do drink the stuff). Maybe me but I found it a bit tired/dated in places and lacking a bit of fizz.
    Having said that I did like 2d, not that I’ve ever jumped on one, the excellent lurker at 16a with 4 or 25a making up the podium.
    2.5/2.5*
    Thanks to the setter and to Tilsit for the challenge.

  15. Indeed it is I. I’m surprised that some are finding this a mite harder than my usual fare but pleased that most are enjoying it. It is a difficult path to tread – slightly more ‘obscure’ solutions are allowed in the toughies but my Tuesday one this week was a touch too easy for some. What can I say – solvers on this site are very able on the whole and I am happy to be setting for their pleasure and for the newer solvers who are content to complete a crossword without a massive struggle – but I am taking note of the type of clue that is causing head-scratching.

    Good luck, Tilsit with the pressure at work – we do hope that the greater freedom of movement doesn’t cause another Covid spike.

    1. I’m firmly in the love Chalicea Camp! I seem to be on your wavelength, though shot myself in the foot today and put a right answer in the wrong spot, didn’t ‘alf throw me off!

    2. Thanks, Chalicea, for the great pleasure your puzzles always give me. Today’s was another gem.

    3. With all the different levels of solving ability on this site you are never going to please all the people all the time, I, and the majority of solvers are just grateful for the time and effort put into creating these puzzles, so thank you and all the other setters. Thanks also to the hinters for their amusing ,entertaining and informative efforts.

  16. Lovely puzzle. I was almost straight through with this one in double quick time, which did not detract from the pleasure. The long one at 4d helped although I was not sure how to spell it. I have not fully parsed it so shall check with the hint if there is one. I have only ringed 1 and 2 down as favourites but that is probably a reflection of the time spent rather than lack of enjoyment. The last ones in were in the SE which took a bit more thought. I was unsure of 20d until I had the checkers provided by 19 and 23a. The word is usually used as part of the phrase. Thanks Chalicea and Tilsit.

  17. Just checked hints and pleased I was right. However, I confess to having been doubtful about 4d as there are two words with a similar meaning. As not familiar with the longer one I was not sure I was right until the parsing was explained. Other one I was not sure of was 15d. I thought I was right but not certain as I did not know the word for novice.

  18. Lovely puzzle today.

    Solved steadily until the SE corner which held me up for a while, but a cup of coffee and a break to do a bit of minor kitchen tidying helped and I finished it alone and unaided. Needed Tilsit to help me parse 4d, but figured out the rest OK.

    Thanks to Chalicea and to Tilsit. I do enjoy Chalicea’s puzzles.

    Miserable day here in Dundee. Heavy showers and decidedly cool. Still dealing with the apples. I hope we are coming to the end of the James Grieves soon, but then we will have the Divas then finally the Bramleys. I don’t remember agreeing to having all those trees planted. Hm.

    1. We’ve eaten all the Worcesters (shared with the wasps) and I have just about finished the green apples. I pick a couple of the latter before going on the afternoon walk. No idea of the variety. Now the Bramleys are beckoning. :grin:

  19. I hadn’t heard of 12a or the troublesome fellow in 18d but they had to be what they were and anyway I have now. I got 4d early on but those U’s at the end of words made me doubt it. Favourite was 15d. Thanks to Chalicea and Tilsit.

    1. Not to mention the 2 across clues that needed to end in i. You weren’t alone in your doubts.

  20. Found this a puzzle of two halves. Finished the left side on Friday evening (here on the west coast of Canada) in no time at all and then the right side onSaturday with the help of the hints. Overall 2.5*/*** for the whole puzzle.
    Lots of mis-direction I thought. Didn’t know the word hinted at for the tearaway in 18d … but filed it away for the future.
    Favourites today 8a, 13a, 24a & 26a with 13a winner and 26a runner up

    Thanks to Chalicea and Tilsit for the hints needed for the east of the puzzle

  21. Struggled after a good start then had a bit of a hard time. However an enjoyable challenge apart from needing to know Scottish slang to parse 18d. Struck me as a setter desperately looking for a clue to a three letter word!
    A good challenging puzzle overall.
    Thx to all
    ****/****

  22. Wow, that was surprisingly tough for a Chalicea. I can usually work my way through her offerings, no problem, but not so today. Not sure why, as nothing was obtuse or terribly difficult. Just harder than usual. But imploded on as I was on hold waiting for a medical office to answer my call to confirm an appointment (45 minutes!), so at least it took my mind off that annoyance. Thanks to Chalicea and Tilsit.

  23. 3/4. A game of two halves. Started yesterday and made little progress but fairly raced through this morning. Overall very enjoyable and favourites 4d and 12a. Thanks to Chalicea and Tilsit. It looks like a family of raccoons have dug up most of my neighbour’s front lawn looking for bugs. He won’t be pleased.

    1. My son (in Sunnyvale CA) had that problem with his newly-laid lawn. They just rolled up the turfs every night. We bought and scattered kilos of shredded chili peppers and he rigged an automatic spray that their movement turned on. They got hot noses and wet pelts and were finally discouraged.

  24. This was one where I rattled through it all in 1.5* time & then suffered a brain freeze. The 4 letter synonyms for the correct ring at 19a & then for 14d’s public showing took a further ** time for the pennies to drop. The troublesome fellow was also new to me, I would never have had 24a as hyphenated & found 20d a bit loose. I wouldn’t have pegged this one as a Chalicea production & whilst I enjoyed it I’m not sure I’d count it among my favourite of her recent puzzles. Pick of the across clues was 12a, which I’m very partial to with a nice glass of red, but the downs had it for me with ticks at 2,4,5&15.
    Thanks to Chalicea & Tilsit

      1. Haven’t looked at it yet but will. Yesterday’s Paul puzzle was fun & Shabbo’s NTSPP was great.

  25. Smooth solve until 15d when I had to use a thesaurus for novice. 26a as my favourite; thank you Chalicea and Tilsit

  26. After titanic struggles on Thursday and Friday, this one went in easily for me. Thanks to Chalicea for restoring my confidence and to Tilsit for his blog. 1.5*/****

  27. Still no fuel when we passed our local BP station at 10 pm last night . Odd situation here in Kent as in Devon we had no problem at all. Problems too with the flu vaccine running out. I got my jab just in time at lunchtime. Now I am relaxing with one of my 14 units of alcohol because of course I was asked how much I drank and, of course, I lied!
    Back to the puzzle. Oddly enough I have just read 2 books by Ian Rankin but haven’t come across the troublesome fellow in 18d. My COTD has to be 24a as it makes a change from the Novovirus!

    1. I never lie, I come straight out with it. The last time, the nurse said to me, “is there anything you’d like me to help you with?” A bit floored, I told him no, I’ve been doing this for 60 years and see no reason to change.

      1. You are so right. I belong to the generation who, when they found they were pregnant, opened a bottle of wine to celebrate and left the resulting babies in their prams outside shops. We all survived. The past is truly a foreign country!

      2. The last time I was asked about my alcohol consumption the follow-up question was whether that is daily or per week!

    2. JB
      Ashamed to say I have read all the Rebus books (and sndry others by Rankin) but did not remember the troublesome fellow! Am half way through re-reading them in strict sequence so wiill look out for it

      1. I think it was referenced in the one about the protesters camping out in Edinburgh which Siobhan’s parents attended but wouldn’t swear to it!

      2. I think that Rebus’s most troublesome fellow is Big Ger! Or one of those Glaswegians who bedevil him.

  28. I love Chalicea, only snag today is that I put the answer to 12a in the 16a slot. I managed to correct it when I got 17d but it caused me a lot of grief. I need to use a magnifying glass to read the numbers and sometimes I’m lazy, like today, so my own fault! I loved it all, maybe 4d is fave as it was first in and helped with all those checking letters.
    Thank you for the fun Chalicea, and thanks for the hints Tilsit. I love your music choices.

  29. Enjoyed it very much but didn’t clock it was Chalicea. Otherwise I would have enjoyed it more! If that makes any sense.
    No help needed but thanks t to Chalicea and Tilsit

  30. I found this tougher than yesterday.

    Still none the wiser about 20d.

    Had the answer for 13a because of the checkers but dismissed it. Turns out it is the 437th synonym of the relevant word.

    Probably my first DNF on a Saturday.

    Thanks to all.

    1. 20d takes a bit of unravelling and even then I’m not sure it really means drinking bout.

      1. I still can’t decide if 20d has an o or an a. I could argue for both – and shouldn’t it have been “British at first” rather than “last”?

  31. Finished at a canter **/*** Only puzzled by the non educated delinquent of 18d found by googling.
    Thanks to Chalice a and Tilsit

  32. Any help with 19a appreciated. I have some letters but have two solutions .. but can’t work out how they break the clue down

    1. Hi Penny, take a 4-letter word for a type of grass and wrap it round a ring (on the phone perhaps) to give the definition described in the last four words of the clue.

  33. Completed most of this in ** time, but got stuck on 12a which I have never heard of, couldn’t guess it even with the hint, so resorted to danword. Had a couple of bung ins which I needed the hints to explain. An enjoyable tussle ,so thanks to all.

  34. I found the NE and SW went in fairly easily but struggled with the NW and SE. I thought this was a Chalicea to start with although had some doubts with the trickier clues. 16a was my favourite clue. Thanks to Chalicea and Tilsit ***/****

  35. I hear from my Scottish neighbour here in East London, the troublesome fellow is from an acronym. [xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx] Hope that’s not too much information for a weekend prize puzzle !
    Nice crossword Saturday, a good mix of straightforward and head scratchers.
    **.5/****

    1. Redacted as probably it is too much information. Why not come back when the review is published on Friday and say it again without fear of being sent to the Naughty Corner?

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